Notes: This was the last day of the season for the Avalon Sea Watch. The low temps and high wind seemed to be a swift kick to the undertail coverts for many waterfowl, resulting in a nice showing of ducks, geese, and swans with most flocks relatively low (by high flock 'o geese standards).

Thank you to everyone who made this season possible: everyone at the Cape May Bird Observatory and all the sea hardy visitors!

Notes: Today was my final day conducting the seawatch as I'm heading back to the midwest for a prior obligation. I want to thank everyone who came up and kept me company, kept me well supplied with warm drinks and snacks, and helped me out on the major flight days. Many helped, but I want to especially thank Jon Kauffman, who did a terrific job not only being the interpretive naturalist and interacting with visitors, but also in spotting and counting birds when it got busy. Special thanks also go out to Gail Dwyer and Shaun Bamford for their constant company even on the "slow days", and also to Tony Leukering, Cameron Cox, Glenn Davis, Michael O'Brien, Sam Galick, and Clay Sutton for their assistance on the mega days and for their willingness to drop what they were doing to come help me out. It's been an incredible season and I'm extremely honored to have been a part of a truly spectacular migration phenomenon.-Sean Fitzgerald

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Cape May Autumn Hawkwatch - September 1 to November 30

Sunrise to 5:00 P.M. every day. Join the CMBO official hawk counter, Mary Raikes, and interpretive naturalists Emily Wilmoth, Margeaux Maerz, and Jordan Rogan at the Hawkwatch Platform at the Cape May Point State Park under one of the greatest hawk migrations in North America. Flights totaling more than 1,000 hawks per day occur several times each autumn. The Hawkwatch is a partnership project with the N.J. Division of Parks and Forestry.

Click for the migration forecast

Songbird Morning Flight Project - August 15 to October 31

Four hours beginning at sunrise every day. Migrant songbirds move past the northwest corner of Cape Island every morning in the fall. Join other observers at the small observation tower just south of the jetty parking area at Higbee Beach. Turn right onto the unpaved road at the west end of New England Road to access the viewing tower. This year's morning flight counter is Glen Davis; swing counter for this and the other watches is Tom Reed.